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cnbc.com
CoreWeave shares tumble as bond yields near 15% on concern about AI borrowing binge
Shares of CoreWeave sank 15%, while yields in its bonds blew out further.
cnbc.com
Container ship sinks in Strait of Hormuz as Iran steps up attacks
Iran has escalated its strikes on commercial ships transiting Hormuz in recent weeks, as it tries to choke off a rebound in crude oil exports.
cnbc.com
10-year Treasury yields dip as traders look ahead to Thursday economic reports
The 10-year Treasury note yield fell on Wednesday after climbing earlier in the day as traders awaited still more economic data Thursday.
cnbc.com
Traders pile into 'bubble puts' on CoreWeave as neocloud stocks plunge
As a key corner of the artificial intelligence trade takes a beating on Wednesday, traders are betting it could get even worse.
cnbc.com
Treasury says largest U.S. banks let politics influence who received banking services
New Treasury Department findings may lend weight to President Donald Trump’s long-running grievance that major banks have discriminated against conservatives.
bbc.co.uk
Drop-off charges at UK airports to be reviewed after sharp increase
Confirming the review, the government said it was "vital to ensure travel remains accessible and that passengers are treated fairly".
cnbc.com
OpenAI’s Sachin Katti to leave infrastructure role, stay on as advisor
Katti said in a post on LinkedIn that he "decided to move on to build something new."
cnbc.com
Iran says it’s ‘counting the moments’ until it can strike U.S. warships; Saudi Aramco facilities attacked
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Aramco reportedly came under fresh attack overnight.
cnbc.com
Judge extends block on Trump White House ban of MS NOW, CNN and Politico
President Donald Trump had sought to ban media outlets MS NOW, CNN and Politico from reporting from the White House.
cnbc.com
Morgan Stanley tops estimates as equities trading revenue beats expectations by $909 million
Morgan Stanley topped expectations on the top and bottom lines for the third quarter.
cnbc.com
Fannie Mae sharply raises mortgage rate forecast for 2027
Fannie Mae just put out its latest forecast for mortgage rates, and they are much higher than previous estimates.
cnbc.com
Bank of America shares drop 8% after third-quarter revenue miss and regulatory penalty
Bank of America shares fell Wednesday after the company posted weaker-than-expected trading revenue and the impact of a $1.2 billion Treasury fine.
bbc.co.uk
Netflix to shed 1,000 jobs in steepest cuts since 2022
The cuts equate to around 6% of the streaming giant's total workforce worldwide.
theguardian.com
The UK energy secretary is flirting with a bad idea for bills – the ‘rising block tariff’
There are many reasons to reject this affordability ‘solution’, not least it being complex and fiddly. Just keep things simple‘My mark of failure or success is whether I can get bills down or not. That’s the only thing I’m in this job to do.” So said Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, recently, bracing for the hike in energy bills that looks inevitable in January. Industry projections suggest £400-ish on an annual basis is on the way, with “stubbornly high” levels for the rest of decade even if wholesale gas prices cool down.So, yes, one can understand why “affordability” is Fahnbulleh’s “top priority”. And, as this newspaper reported last week, there is likely to be an intervention in that direction in chancellor John Healey’s budget this month: £1bn of extra support for poorer households this winter. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Ukraine warns Starlink limits are disrupting military operations as Russia pounds its energy infrastructure
A ballistic missile has struck energy infrastructure supposedly covered by the "energy ceasefire" announced by Trump on Sunday, Zelenskyy said.
cnbc.com
BlackRock's Larry Fink warns a data center moratorium could trigger a recession
Local opposition to data center construction has been a feature of the midterm elections set for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
theguardian.com
Palantir and Sadiq Khan drop legal battle over Met contract
Dispute related to claims London mayor blocked US tech firm from £50m police deal because of concerns over its valuesPalantir and the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, have called off their legal fight over claims the Labour mayor was blocking the US tech company from signing a contract with the Metropolitan police because of its values and ethics.Palantir and the mayor’s office for policing and crime (Mopac) announced on Wednesday they had withdrawn allegations against each other, heading off a high court trial scheduled for January. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
'It's rough out here': Americans struggle with rising inflation
US inflation continues to rise, and this month the jump was above forecasts. Here's how some are surviving.
bbc.co.uk
Toilet paper and secret recorders: What we know about the arrest of the Saudi OpenAI engineer
Abdulrahman Alfozan had worked for the AI giant for more than a year before he was arrested by the FBI.
bbc.co.uk
US inflation rises more than expected - here's what is happening with prices
The pace of price rises increased to 3.7% in the year to September, driving by higher motor fuel costs.
theguardian.com
Netflix to lay off about 1,000 employees in biggest cuts since 2022
Streaming company faces tough competition for viewers and engagement from legacy rivals and YouTubeNetflix is laying off 6% of its workforce, or roughly 1,000 employees, in its biggest cuts since 2022, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, as the streaming pioneer faces tough competition for viewers from legacy rivals and YouTube.The bulk of the job cuts would be in Netflix’s product, tech, legal and human-resources teams, the email co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos sent to employees on Wednesday showed. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Netflix to lay off roughly 1,000 employees, or 6% of workforce
Netflix will lay off roughly 6% of its workforce, according to a memo obtained by CNBC.
cnbc.com
Bank of America fined $1.2 billion over money laundering violations
The action by the Treasury Department was announced less than a day before Bank of America reports quarterly earnings.
cnbc.com
Bending Spoons skyrockets 35% as Berkshire Hathaway makes $330 million investment
Berkshire's latest investment follows the $600 million it invested in the company's IPO this July.
theguardian.com
US inflation rose to 3.7% in September in blow to Republicans before midterms
Final inflation report before voters go to polls comes amid widespread anger over cost of living under TrumpSend us your questions on how the US economy is shaping the midterm electionsRepublicans are entering the midterm elections with the highest rate of inflation since the spring, according to a government report released on Wednesday.US price increases reached an annual rate of 3.7% in September, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, up from 3.4% in August. This final inflation report before the pivotal midterm elections comes amid polls showing widespread dissatisfaction with the Trump administration over the cost of living. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
English and Welsh water firms could be forced to return £107m via lower bills
Yorkshire and Thames among providers facing penalties for missing performance targets, but bills could rise elsewhereBusiness live – latest updatesThames Water, Yorkshire Water and other providers could be forced to cut tens of millions of pounds from household bills after the regulator said they had missed performance targets.Customer bills at Yorkshire Water could fall by £27 on average, while those at Thames could decrease by £7, according to estimates by Ofwat, the regulator of the privatised industry in England and Wales. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Merry squishmas: £10 squeezy banana on list of top festive season toys
Social media-driven craze puts ‘squishies’ up there with evergreen favourites such as Lego and Barbie, Hamleys saysA cartoonish banana so addictively squidgy that it is “really difficult to put down” is tipped to be among the must-have toys this Christmas, according to expert buyers at Hamleys.The £10 “slow-rise, squeezable, sensory” fruit taps into the “squishies” craze that is fuelling a high street boom in toy sales. In the coming weeks, Hamleys expects to sell thousands of the Big Squij toys, which come in a variety of food and animal shapes filled with a flour-based compound. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Closer EU trade ties greater prize for UK than making separate deals, minister says
Exclusive: Douglas Alexander, on trade delegation to India, talks up economic benefits of joint trading arrangements with EuropeBritain will benefit from much closer trading relations with the EU even if that means giving up its ability to negotiate free trade agreements, the Scotland secretary has said.Douglas Alexander helped negotiate deals with India and the US when he was a trade minister under Keir Starmer. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Excluding UK from ‘Made in Europe’ law will hurt entire EU car industry, Mercedes boss warns
Ola Källenius says it will ‘weaken the industry on both sides’ ahead of act intended to counter non-EU competition Locking the UK out of the EU’s flagship industrial “Made in Europe” legislation would amount to a “deliberate choice” by EU leaders to “hurt” the car industry across the bloc, the head of Mercedes-Benz has said.Speaking in his capacity as president of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), Ola Källenius said such a move would “weaken the industry on both sides”. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Consumer prices rose 3.7% annually in September as gas prices skyrocket
The consumer price index was expected to increase 0.6% in September on a monthly basis and 3.6% from a year ago, according to the Dow Jones consensus forecast.
bbc.co.uk
Driving test waits fall to two-year low - but still average 20 weeks
Learner drivers in September had to wait an average of 19.7 weeks, or around five months, for a practical test.
cnbc.com
FBI arrests Saudi OpenAI employee who allegedly planted recording device in conference room
The Tuesday incident comes as the ChatGPT-maker, along with competitors, faces heightened scrutiny over its safety practices.
theguardian.com
Uber begins self-driving robotaxi trial in Manchester
Company hails first step in rolling out technology across UK as first autonomous vehicles take to city’s streetsUber has begun a trial of autonomous vehicles on the streets of Manchester as it looks to bring robotaxis to cities around the UK.The first self-driving cars are operating, using the technology of its partner firms Pony and Verne, with whom Uber recently launched Europe’s first autonomous taxi service in the Croatian capital, Zagreb. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘From liabilities to goldmines’: refineries eye record profits from diesel shortage
Firms turning crude oil into the ‘workhorse’ fuel stand to gain most despite economic fallout from record pricesDays after Donald Trump announced a deal to import Russian diesel into the US in an effort to lower soaring pump prices, the world’s energy watchdog has warned that the global fuel shortage will drag into 2027.Trump’s temporary sanctions reprieve was criticised for offering “too little, too late” to temper the sky high pump prices triggered by the shutdown of war-damaged refineries in the Middle East and Russia – once the world’s second-largest diesel exporter behind the US. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Delta's business-class revamp: New seats, menus, plates and more Porsches
Delta is upgrading its top-tier Delta One cabin with new suites for its largest o50 plane, starting next year.
bbc.co.uk
Wayfair among firms fined millions for misleading sales tactics
The Competition and Markets Authority has fined Wayfair, Appliances Direct, and Gold's Gym £6m in total.
bbc.co.uk
Civil servant faked illness with make-up to juggle five jobs, court hears
Kashim Chowdhury is accused of fraudulently juggling multiple government jobs while working from home.
theguardian.com
Bank of America fined $1.2bn for money-laundering failures
Third-largest fine in US treasury’s history, due to failure to report suspicious activity, may affect third-quarter earningsBank of America (BAC.N), has been fined $1.21bn by US regulators for widespread failures to detect potential money laundering and other illicit activity, a penalty the bank said will hurt third-quarter earnings.The US treasury department said the fine, the third-largest in department history, is due to the bank’s failure to report more than $5bn in suspicious activity to the government, including $1bn that posed national security-related and other priority illicit finance risks. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Job cuts could fund diesel price drop says deputy
With the ongoing war in the Middle East increasing prices, one deputy is ask for duty to be frozen.
bbc.co.uk
Faisal Islam: What surprise praise for UK economy tells us about the Budget
On three occasions in the past 24 hours, top IMF officials have praised UK plans to reduce its annual levels of borrowing.
cnbc.com
Diesel squeeze set to last well into 2027 as Iran war disrupts supply, IEA says
Diesel supply is expected to remain tight into 2027 as Iran war-related disruption, falling inventories and resilient demand strain the market, the IEA said.
theguardian.com
Nvidia, worth $5.5tn, donates $250m to UK for AI safety research
Pledge spanning five years from world’s most valuable firm comes as concerns about AI agents have risenThe $5.5tn (£4.1tn) US chipmaker Nvidia is donating $250m worth of computing power to the UK to support AI safety research.The donation from the world’s most valuable company comes as the UK government confirmed its AI Security Institute (AISI), which tests advance AI models, will be able to examine cutting-edge technology developed by companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic and Google before they are released. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
AI overlords say they want to democratise their technology. Here’s how | Richard Wilson and Clara Long
A fight over a datacentre in Utah has been a testing ground for citizens’ assemblies, paving the way to oversightWhat’s your “(p)doom” – the percentage chance that rogue AI will create an existential catastrophe? Judging by their recent warnings, it is rising among tech bosses.On 25 September, OpenAI paused training of its latest frontier models as reports of AI agents going rogue mounted. A day later, Australia’s Senate asked the bosses of OpenAI and Anthropic to appear before an inquiry after rogue OpenAI agents broke into US government websites and an Australian health portal. Both declined.Richard Wilson is the CEO of Iswe Foundation and Clara Long is the co-executive director of the Bloom Project Continue reading...
theguardian.com
I work for a major insurer. Much of my industry is fudging the numbers in the face of the climate crisis | Anonymous
Insurers are taking on more risk than they should. If – or when – a major disaster hits, the catastrophe will have far-reaching consequencesI work for a major insurer, assessing the risk posed by natural disasters on properties around the world, from family homes to schools, government offices and multibillion-dollar commercial centres. The world is facing greater risk than ever from extreme weather. We are not prepared – and that inaction could have profound consequences for the global financial system.In the face of ever more extreme and unpredictable climate risks, I am coming under pressure to cut my forecasts for the losses that disasters will cause in order to make insurance more affordable – and get my employer more business. In some instances, the questioning of our numbers and models is justified. But too often, it is not being done to produce more accurate models, but to artificially lower prices. If this is happening at my firm, which is struggling to compete with rivals’ prices, it’s happening elsewhere.The writer is a modeller working in the insurance industry. A version of this piece originally appeared with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism as part of their Secret Source series, a regular column featuring industry whistleblowers Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Why are so many Americans forced to work standing up – unlike their president? | Arwa Mahdawi
Airports’ TSA staff have been stripped of their chairs in the name of ‘professionalism’. Most supermarket staff have never had them. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is seated at his desk – and apparently snoozingGreat news for everyone who is soon to fly via a US airport: the Trump administration has just elevated the travel experience. You still risk getting arrested by immigration agents and thrown into a detention centre, but never mind that! Instead, luxuriate in the fact that none of the poorly paid Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff with whom you interact will be sitting down. The government recently got rid of all the chairs at travel document checking stations, arguing that “maintaining a standing posture helps reinforce professionalism” and strengthens “our security posture and … commitment to hospitality”. Funnily enough, border patrol and customs officers have not adopted the same policy. Perhaps because their job tends to involve being as inhospitable as possible.TSA agents aren’t the only US workers getting sore calf muscles during their shifts. Unlike their European and British counterparts, cashiers at US supermarkets have traditionally been forced to stand while working. The US’s upright obsession seems to be down to a Protestant work ethic and a lack of labour laws. Sitting apparently conveys laziness to the discerning American consumer. Over the years there have been numerous right-to-sit lawsuits pushing back on mandatory standing but, while things are shifting slightly, seated supermarket cashiers are still unusual. One exception is Aldi, which has been expanding aggressively in the US. Cashiers get chairs at Aldi because (surprise) it’s more efficient when your workers’ feet aren’t aching all the time. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
'It's definitely tight trying to budget on maternity leave'
An estimated 47,500 people in Sheffield are unable to make ends meet and pay their bills.
theguardian.com
Bank of England and IMF bosses warn of cyber threat to trust in financial system
Kristalina Georgieva says online fraud could lead people to opt out of system and turn to ‘shoeboxes under their bed’The heads of the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund have issued a stark warning that rising cyber-attacks risk undermining trust in the financial system.Speaking on a panel about online fraud at the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, the governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, pointed to alarming headlines about self-replicating AI agents hijacking personal devices, and the French supermarket hack that heated fridges up to 50C. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Is the modern economic system broken? These urban beekeepers think so – and this is their solution
At Bybi in Copenhagen, a dedicated group of staff and volunteers have built a community for all centred on the production of honey – much of which is given away for nothing. Could it be replicated elsewhere?The bees at Bybi, a collective of beekeepers in Copenhagen, live on the roof. Their home is a complex of Victorian buildings, right in the centre of the city, that looks like an idealised vision of the modern social enterprise, ennobled by the architecture of the past. It’s a place of cottage industry in concert with nature, where the marginalised are brought in from the fringes and corporations stand waiting to help, where jobs happen but a lot of the work is done by volunteers, and where – this bit is important – a lot of time is spent discussing ideas.Oliver Maxwell, Bybi’s 48-year-old founder, encourages me to examine the buildings more closely. They were once a prison, a workhouse and a hospital; their functions today – a homeless shelter, a young offender institution and, until recently, a job centre – are not so different. Denmark’s Victorian transformation, from “agricultural backwater to industrialised agriculture”, was reflected in how they treated people, Maxwell says. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Scott Bessent's growth plans aren't enough to tame surging deficit and debt pile, IMF chief says
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Bessent’s reliance on growth won’t cut the U.S. deficit and $40 trillion debt fast enough, calling for fiscal consolidation.
cnbc.com
ASML says it's getting order interest through 2030 as profit smashes expectations
ASML said some customers are "expressing an interest" in placing orders with the company in 2029 and 2030, giving investors a view into longer-term demand.
bbc.co.uk
'I applied for 200 jobs' - How 'spray and pray' AI job applications can backfire
Graduates are increasingly using AI to misrepresent themselves in job applications, research suggests. But some say their peer group has no choice.
theguardian.com
John Healey ‘targets tax crackdown on online marketplaces’ in first budget
Move aimed at firms such as Amazon and eBay could raise up to £1bn more for Treasury, says reportA tax crackdown on online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay that could raise up to £1bn more for the Treasury is reportedly being drawn up for John Healey’s first budget.The chancellor is said to be preparing to announce that online marketplaces will be made responsible for collecting tax owed by all retailers selling on their platforms. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Hundreds of Royal Mail staff quitting each week under new efficiency plans
The CWU says more posties are leaving since a new delivery system was brought in that it claims is not working in hundreds of offices.
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Zelenskyy heads to UK for talks on fresh support
U.K. Prime Minister is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as European leaders rally to show support for the country.
theguardian.com
Businesses could be barred from non-essential water use amid supply threat
Golf clubs, private schools and car washes may face tighter rules from water companies as England’s drought continuesThree water companies are seeking to impose severe restrictions on businesses as the drought continues across most of England, putting rivers and wildlife under huge pressure.Golf clubs and private schools could be barred from using mains water to irrigate playing fields and courses, and commercial car washes stopped from operating, under “non-essential use bans” being sought by the companies. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Energy bills through the roof? Five signs your house is leaking heat
From finding draughts to buying a thermal leak detector – there are simple, cost-effective ways to start sorting heat lossHow to storm-proof your home, from roof tiles to garden fencesPick a day when there is a good breeze, and heat the house to its usual temperature. Then wander around with a candle or smoke pen (about £20). Alternatively, buy a thermal leak detector. This flashes blue for cold, green for normal and red for warm. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Heating oil users facing fuel or food winter choice
It comes as ministers say they will tighten up rules on heating oil and promote competition.
theguardian.com
Global financial system is failing developing countries, says Ed Miliband
UK foreign secretary will call for World Bank and others to help governments trapped by hefty borrowing costsThe foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, will claim the global financial system is failing developing countries, as he calls for a “new deal” for governments struggling under the burden of debt.Promising to throw the UK’s diplomatic weight behind urgent reform, he will evoke the example of the Gleneagles summit under the last Labour government in 2005 – the culmination of the Make Poverty History campaign. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Palantir is worming its way into the British state – it’s time to curb this controversial US company’s influence | George Monbiot
Tom Watson has said ‘mob rule’ must not decide public contracts. Perhaps he should take a look at his new employerWhat a world we live in. Imagine: gangs dragging civil servants off commuter trains and beating them up because they handed government data jobs to the wrong contractor – and the government is changing its procurement decisions as a result. Well, OK, it might not have happened yet, but it’s only a matter of time. As the former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson asks: “Do you want to let the rule of law lead procurement practice, or do you want mob rule to lead procurement practices?” No, I absolutely don’t want the latter, and it’s always good to get ahead of trouble.But then I remember there are two common meanings of mob rule. One is intimidation by crowds of thugs. The other is a pejorative term for democracy. And while I’ve yet to see government procurement practices in the UK determined by pitchforks and flaming torches, democratic transparency could be a genuine threat to certain contractors. One might have hoped that Watson, who once took on the Murdoch empire, would have recognised the distinction. But then again, one might have hoped that Watson would not have taken a job as a senior vice-president at Palantir. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Not building third runway would be 'huge missed opportunity', warns Heathrow boss
Thomas Woldbye tells the Today progamme it would be "good to know" the government's position on the project, after comments made by the prime minister.
cnbc.com
Crypto bosses, CEOs and F1: Singapore's business events boom gathers pace
Singapore's Formula 1 race week is a major business draw as a growing number of conferences coincide with the Grand Prix.
cnbc.com
'Godzilla El Niño' is wreaking havoc with Philippine central bank's inflation forecasts
The Philippine central bank is running policy scenarios for a severe El Niño on top of the oil shock, with inflation at a three-year high.
cnbc.com
China's exports and imports surge past expectations in September
The country's customs agency released September trade data on Wednesday.
cnbc.com
China's producer prices rise at fastest pace since June 2022, beating expectations
The increase was higher than the 4.5% expected by economists polled by Reuters, and higher than the 3.8% seen in the previous month.
cnbc.com
Taiwan agrees to buy 30% of gas from Alaska LNG project, Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Taiwan had agreed to buy 30% of the gas from a pipeline project in Alaska.
bbc.co.uk
Bank of America hit with $1.2bn fine for money laundering failings
The bank inadequately flagged transactions linked to potential Chinese money laundering networks, the Treasury said.
cnbc.com
South Korean carmaker Hyundai plans 'strategic' investment of $15.5 billion in India by 2032
Korean car company Hyundai says India is a strategic core market
theguardian.com
An eerie trip inside Thailand’s oldest amusement park, deserted after flooding
Siam Amazing Park was forced to close after rising water damaged rides and left parts of the park inaccessibleWith its mouth agape, the giant lion’s head is frozen in a roar. No water rushes down the log flume that descends from its heights, while at ground level, the vast amusement park stands empty of noise and activity except for leaves blowing in a light breeze.Welcome to Siam Amazing Park, billed as the longest-running amusement park in south-east Asia, and certainly in Thailand. Up to a million people rush in every year for thrills on rides like the Boomerang, an orange rollercoaster that loop-the-loops at 80km/h (50mph), or to splash around under the tropical sun in one of the world’s largest wave pools. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
How long will humans be needed for translation?
AI dominates the translation business, but for high-stakes work, humans are still needed.
bbc.co.uk
Saudi employee charged with planting recording device in OpenAI office
Prosecutors say the device, wrapped in toilet paper, was found inserted in a USB port on the back of a TV in an executive conference room.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on Burnham’s Brexit reset: overdue, but proceed with care | Editorial
The prime minister is correct to judge the time is right to push for closer links with the EU. The political risk is far outweighed by the potential rewardsThe German philosopher GWF Hegel famously evoked the owl of Minerva when discussing the historical wisdom that comes through hindsight. This autumn, she has flown tirelessly over the landscape of British politics. Party conference season was dominated by conflicting Labour and Conservative accounts of the 1970s and 80s. And a decade after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, Andy Burnham this week abandoned all equivocation over the damage – economic but also strategic – that resulted from that decision.Having declared that it is time to “face up to the reality that Brexit has done more harm than good”, Mr Burnham told the House of Commons on Monday that it would be a “dereliction of duty” not to explore all options for closer relations with Brussels. Though he confirmed that in this parliament he will honour the red lines in Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour manifesto, all bets will subsequently be off.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump's diesel deal with Russia equals less than two weeks of U.S. demand
President Donald Trump's diesel deal with Russia comes as he is under pressure to reduce fuel prices with the U.S. midterm elections less than a month way.
bbc.co.uk
Bumble bought for $1.3bn in 'bet on the future of humanity'
The dating app which recently ditched its "women-first" chat rule has been bought by an investment firm.
bbc.co.uk
NI company in talks to save Poundland from administration
Poundland says Martin Property Group from Londonderry is the management team's "preferred partner"
bbc.co.uk
The Sabrina Carpenter clip that helped a 22-year-old make £120,000 a year
Social media "clippers" make short, vertical videos that appear on the likes of Instagram and TikTok.
theguardian.com
Companies rushed in on AI. Now some are pulling back
Rapid AI adoption left workers cleaning up a flood of errors and low-quality workEmployers around the globe are grappling with the fallout from rushing to adopt fast-changing artificial intelligence tools.Meta has scaled back plans to axe staff and use more AI agents after the company found employees were spending more and more time cleaning up technical and security errors, Reuters reported. And after thinning its workforce, especially middle managers, in a 2023 efficiency push, the company is expanding its managerial ranks again, LinkedIn posts from workers show. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Poundland in rescue talks as owners seek buyer
The leadership team is attempting a buyout, but a union has warned the retailer could fall into administration instead.
bbc.co.uk
Three things we've learnt about the UK economy from the IMF
The influential economics body has upgraded its UK growth forecast for this year, but risks remain.
bbc.co.uk
BA flight forced to turn back over cracked window
British Airways said the plane landed safely at Gatwick and passengers were due to resume their journey.
theguardian.com
Is punishing the poor Trump’s last hand to play?
The pre-midterm defenestration of ACA enrollees looks like political madness – but the president appears to believe hitting poor people might work for himSend us your questions on how the US economy is shaping the midterm electionsThere is a manic quality to Donald Trump’s desperate dash to do something, anything, ahead of November’s midterm elections to convince beleaguered Americans that he can make the pressures his policies have imposed on their livelihoods go away.The US president offered to lower barriers against beef imports to limit surging meat prices, only to consider backtracking under pressure from the cow lobby. He offered to stop diesel exports, only to find oil companies were not interested. He weakened fuel efficiency standards, claiming this would trim the price of a new car (and forgetting to point out it will also raise spending on gas). In early October he started mailing $500 checks to nearly a million people touting his healthcare “wins”. Oh, and he promised adult Americans a $5,000 check if Republicans maintain control of Congress. That, too, will go nowhere. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
UK growth forecast upgraded but higher energy prices to hit economy next year
The prediction from the IMF comes as final preparations are being made for the first Budget under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
bbc.co.uk
Phase Eight and Hobbs owner hit by cyber-attack, as H&M probes separate hack claim
TFG London has apologised to customers for disruption after it identified a "cybersecurity incident" on Sunday.
theguardian.com
AI godfather Geoffrey Hinton: ‘We’re creating alien beings. I’m willing to be selfish and choose humans’
The pioneering computer scientist on why Trump is using ‘superintelligence’ wrong, whether AI could wipe out humanity – and how our biggest challenge will be accepting we’re not the only intelligent beingsDonald Trump is a “corrupt, senile felon” whose fixation on the term superintelligence proves he knows nothing about AI, said Geoffrey Hinton, “godfather” of the technology, in a wide-ranging interview where he doubled down on recent warnings that AI models pose an existential threat to humanity and scoffed at claims the industry could regulate itself.The pioneering computer scientist, whose work helped lay the foundations of modern AI, has since become one of the technology’s most vocal critics. His latest remarks come after a tumultuous month during which a growing list of senior AI scientists and researchers have joined Hinton in ringing the alarm about how the technology he helped create could ultimately escape human control, sparking an industry crisis, the hasty assembly of congressional meetings and a rare global consensus that something must be done. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
BT charged me for more than a year despite landline being dead
It is billing £32.99 a month but I have had no functioning phone line since it switched me to Digital VoiceI’ve had no landline since May 2025 when BT switched it to Digital Voice. Weeks passed, and each call to BT involved at least an hour waiting on hold and answering security questions before being passed between departments.Eventually, last December, two engineers were sent and discovered that a wire had been severed during the upgrade. They said they needed a cherry picker to reconnect it to its original location and would return. They did not. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘People sell their best stuff on Vinted’ – how charity shops became a dumping ground for unsellable clothes
Swamped with ‘daily avalanches’ of soiled items and poor-quality fast fashion, secondhand stores are in crisis. What went wrong with people’s good intentions? And is it possible to donate more effectively?The small stockroom of St Raphael’s Hospice charity shop in Cheam, south London, is rammed with donations. “On average, we get 30 to 50 bags a day,” says Caroline Worley, the commercial manager, “but it’s not unusual to receive over 100.” This might sound like a good problem to have, but the sheer volume of stuff is the shop’s biggest challenge. “Sometimes, there’s only [enough] floor space to tiptoe,” says 48-year-old store manager, Colin French.Rummaging through the donations, it’s clear that much is unsaleable: a smelly, soiled bathrobe, tatty trainers, heavily bobbled jumpers, old socks, an empty Swarovski jewellery case. “Absolutely typical,” says Worley. They’re also overwhelmed with deluges of low-quality fashion – a shift in donation habits that accelerated during Covid, because, says Worley, all that time at home enabled people to sell their best stuff on Vinted. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Lobbying, lawyers and a media blitz: the fight to kill the Church of England’s £100m slavery compensation fund
Some of Britain’s wealthiest financiers, including Sir Paul Marshall, have given a platform to critical coverage or are linked to its leading opponent“This is virtue signalling,” said Nigel Biggar. “These are elites who are trying to demonstrate that they are being progressive.”The target of his scorn was one that has obsessed him for years: the movement to pay reparations for the slave trade, and specifically the Church of England’s plan to spend £100m atoning for its involvement. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
French supermarket director apologises after cyber-attack spoils fresh and frozen food - video
A cyber-attack caused refrigeration temperatures to soar to 50C overnight on Monday across several hundred French supermarkets, with widespread food losses reported. At Intermarché La Haye, the attack caused fridge temperatures to reach 27C (80F), spoiling fresh and frozen food, according to store director Julien Freret. 'Today, we have a total loss of fresh and frozen,' Freret said, apologising to customers and describing the incident as 'an enormous loss of products'Hackers force French supermarket fridges to heat up to 50C in ‘unprecedented’ cyber-attack Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Publicly owned rail is popular. But is it making the trains run on time?
Meeting travellers' expectations could be challenging, experts warn.
bbc.co.uk
Heating oil customers face tough winter despite shake-up promise
Heating oil customers facing soaring bills are promised better regulation of the sector by the government.
bbc.co.uk
Fridges in French supermarkets hit by cyber attack
Hundreds of stores were targeted by the overnight hack, which spoiled fresh and frozen food estimated to be worth millions of euros.
theguardian.com
Trump rewards Putin and betrays Ukraine with Russia diesel deal - The Latest
Donald Trump’s deal to buy Russian diesel has been met with fury from Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said it was ‘a weak decision’ and would generate ‘billions’ in extra revenue for Putin’s war effort. The Ukrainian president has also rejected US calls for an ‘energy ceasefire’, which would require Kyiv to stop striking oil refineries, saying Moscow must first end its attacks on energy infrastructure. Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian’s senior international correspondent, Luke Harding – watch on YouTube Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
What are your rights on auto-renew subscriptions?
Martin has advice for listeners caught out by auto-renewing subscriptions, explaining what rights consumers have and whether there's a way to challenge the renewal or cancel.
bbc.co.uk
AI minister warns 'likely' UK's cyber defences will be breached
Kanishka Narayan said the government will use advanced AI to strengthen the UK against cyber attacks.
theguardian.com
Huge explosion captured on CCTV after deadly strike hits grocery store in Kharkiv – video
Ukrainian officials said Russian attacks killed six people in two Ukrainian cities on 11 October. In Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, a strike on a grocery store killed three people and injured 20 others, including two children, the regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said.Footage released by the Kharkiv prosecutor’s office captured the moment of the strike, showing debris flying through the air and fires breaking out as car alarms sounded Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
How to avoid getting stung if you miss credit card payments
People are increasingly falling behind on credit card repayments, so here's the best way to get debt advice.
theguardian.com
CCTV from inside Riyadh airport shows moment of deadly airstrike – video
CCTV released by Saudi Arabia shows the moment of an attack on King Khalid international airport that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300 on 10 October. Footage shows passengers queueing, making their way through a security gate and sitting in a waiting area moments before the blast, after which people can be seen scrambling to find cover. The missile struck the part of the airport housing terminals 3 and 4 for domestic flights, a regional official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.It was the deadliest attack on a Gulf country since the Iran war began on 28 February, and came amid an escalation in the conflict in Yemen between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia and the Riyadh-backed Yemeni governmentRiyadh airport hit again after deadly Houthi missile attack, Saudi authorities say Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Healey faces £35bn Budget challenge to meet spending pledges, says think tank
The Institute for Fiscal Studies says the government will need a "top-up" of billions of pounds if it wants to meet its spending plans.
theguardian.com
UK van drivers face extra £2.5bn in diesel costs this year, figures show
Calls for planned fuel duty rise to be scrapped as analysis finds average fuel bill could hit £1,965, up from £1,294Millions of British van drivers face a combined £2.5bn cost to cover the rising price of diesel this year, according to figures, fuelling calls for the government to scrap its planned fuel duty rise.The owners of diesel vans and pickups can expect to collectively spend almost £8.5bn at the pump this year, according to analysis for the Guardian, after diesel prices climbed to record highs due to a global fuel shortage caused by disruption to refineries in the Middle East and Russia. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Drivers forced to use parking apps can pay up to 40% more
Council car parks have switched away from ticket machines to cut costs, leading to extra fees for usersDrivers are unwittingly paying up to 40% more to park as more councils switch to app-only payments and force customers to pick up the tab.Many councils across England have removed pay and display machines and replaced them with app payments, including a number in London. Most local authorities encourage drivers to pay by app to beat queues, while apps are often the only way to pay when ticket machines are out of order. However, many car park signs fail to mention that app payments may incur an additional service fee. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Roman Abramovich aides falsified paperwork to disguise assets and dodge tax, records suggest
Accountancy firm Deloitte Cyprus among those that appear to have backdated records outlining the Russian billionaire’s assetsAides of Roman Abramovich – including staff at the global accountancy firm Deloitte – falsified paperwork mapping the oligarch’s sprawling offshore business empire, records suggest, helping his businesses dodge tax and disguise assets.New analysis of leaked corporate records uncovers what appears to have been a long-running and carefully orchestrated strategy of backdating documents. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Some aren’t going to make it’: how pressure on farmers threatens UK food security
Food producers are adding their voices to the chorus of warnings about the vulnerability of British supply chains“There are so many decent, capable, productive, efficient arable farmers out there, asking how they are supposed to finance the crop they are meant to be putting in the ground,” Jamie Burrows says.Sitting in his tractor at his arable farm in Norfolk, Burrows is listing the multiple challenges facing him and other food producers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Halloweenmas’: how the spooky one-nighter turned into a month-long spectacular
Welcome to Halloweenmas, weeks of themed fun and gifts – from costume parties to decorating trees – without the stress, rules or cost of ChristmasThe tree is up, the wreath is hanging on the front door and you’ve just opened your advent calendar. All told, it’s beginning to feel a lot like … Halloween.If it sounds like the stuff of nightmares then that’s the point: Britons are increasingly decorating their homes with ghoulish versions of Christmas traditions. Think of it as Halloweenmas. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Money Box
What age will you get your state pension?
bbc.co.uk
Why are there so many sports subscriptions?
Pete Oliver of DAZN explains why the is a growing number of sports subscriptions and why they are getting more expensive.
bbc.co.uk
Why are more roofs not made of solar tiles?
Solar tiles were touted as an attractive alternative to solar panels - why have they not taken off?
theguardian.com
‘Someone else will do it for less’: refugees in Kenya are powering tech for dwindling pay
Refugee gig workers for tech companies don’t know how much they’ll be paid – if AI hasn’t already taken their jobs In a portable building in Kakuma, a refugee camp near Kenya’s northern border with South Sudan, Grace used ChatGPT to research translations of Christian hymns in languages she doesn’t speak. She didn’t know the client, the purpose of her work or whether she would be paid, but as a refugee unable to legally work in Kenya, she needed any opportunity she could get.Grace, who requested anonymity due to a nondisclosure agreement, prompted ChatGPT to translate the hymn’s English text into the assigned east Asian language. She then used the translation to search for existing versions and find information about its translator, author and Christian denomination. She fed those details to AOP Connect, a crowdsourced research platform owned by British AI enterprise software company RWS. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
How oil-rich Alberta's economy might fare if it broke away from Canada
Albertans vote this month on staying in Canada or moving ahead to a binding independence referendum.
bbc.co.uk
Rainmakers: The drones used to seed clouds
Cloud seeding is gaining attention as countries look to boost rainfall - will drones help?
bbc.co.uk
The AI telling farmers when to harvest
Will farmers want AI tools to help judge when to pick fruit, or is their own intuition enough?
bbc.co.uk
The start-ups hoping to return battery making to the US
Batteries based on sodium-ion technology could be made in the US with locally sourced materials.
bbc.co.uk
My hometown shows that high streets have to change or die
Aberdeen is launching an ambitious bid to revive its struggling centre. Could it offer lessons for other high streets?
bbc.co.uk
Europe's car makers are in crisis. Will the threat of war rescue them?
Auto executives across Europe hope rearmament can help them flex their industrial muscles once more.
bbc.co.uk
X-planes: Are they needed in the new era of drones?
Where do America's X-plane projects fit in an era of cheap drones?
bbc.co.uk
How the oil capital of the US welcomed a solar power boom
Texas is now the country's biggest producer of solar-farmed electricity.
bbc.co.uk
Spain battles climate change on several fronts
A summer of wildfires and heatwaves underlines the threats to the country's economy.
bbc.co.uk
The virtual worlds where robots are trained
Training systems that allow robots to negotiate the real world are getting more sophisticated.
bbc.co.uk
Would you buy branded clothing from your favourite tech firm?
Nvidia, OpenAI and Anthropic are all now selling their own limited edition fashion lines.
bbc.co.uk
Aviation faces hotter, stormier skies – and passengers might have to accept more disruption
Are people going to have to increasingly accept more delays and diversions as the effects of climate change intensify?
bbc.co.uk
Why the UK is dithering over what to do about e-scooters
Why is it taking so long for the government to regulate them, and what are the consequences of delay?
bbc.co.uk
Why Gen Z are planning for life without a state pension
Many younger people do not believe the state pension will exist when they are older
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